Picking mechanism for loom



Dec. 30, 1958 e. s. SIMMONS, JR 2,866,482

' I PICKING MECHANISM FOR LOOM Filed Jan. 50, 1957 v I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEORGE S.'-S|MMONS,JR.

ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1958 G. s. SIMMONS, JR

pzcxmc MECHANISM FOR LOOM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 50, 1957 INVENTOR GEORGE S. SIMMONS, JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent PICKING MECHANISM FOR LOOM George S. Simmons, Jr., Leicester, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Corporation, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 30, 1957, Serial No. 637,298

17 Claims. (Cl. 139-149) This invention relates to shuttle picking mechanism more particularly of the so-called parallel type wherein a picker is fastened to the upper end of the picker stick and moves in a substantially straight line when propelling a shuttle and it is the general object of the invention to provide a mounting for the picker stick so constructed that the picking force to move the stick will actuate mechanism separate from the stick to cause the latter to have a bodily vertical motion during the picking operation to require the upper end of the stick to move in a substantially straight line. 1

Various devices have been proposed heretofore for the purpose of moving the upper or picker carrying end of the stick in a more or less straight line parallel to the lay and to the path of the shuttle. These devices include an arcuate foot rockable on a fiat surface, a cam to engage a roller on the stick to move the latter first down and then up during picking operation, and a system of multiple link supports. Still another proposal utilizes a rotatable mounting for the pivot stud of the picker stick wherein the force required to turn the mounting is derived directly from the picker stick but this rnanner'of turning the mounting, because of the manner in which the force is applied imposes serious limitations on the angle through which the mounting can turn. None of these devices operates with complete satisfaction.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a rockable stick mounting means'having a'pivot stud or crank pin for the lower end of the picker stick together with an operating means separate from but moved by the picker stick and when thus moved cause turning of the mounting means to revolve the stick pivot stud through any desired angle sufficient to neutralize the normal tendency of the stick first to rise and then descend during its picking stroke. A convenient means for carrying the invention into effect is to pivot the operating means on a carrier foot and provide it with a segmental gear to mesh with a gear or pinion fixed to the rotatable mounting means so that the segmental gear when rocked by the stick will move the pivot stud positively.

Withthe mechanism set forth hereinafter the moment tending to move the pivot stud or crank pin remain substantially constant throughout movement of the stick. In this way excessive forces are avoided and a greater movement of the pivot stud attained than has been possible heretofore.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved support for the picker stick capable of ready attachment to the loom, preferably though not necessarily to the rocker shaft of the lay, the support including a carrier foot having a rockable gear segment meshing with a pinion rotatable on the foot and having crank pin to support the stick. Such a support, after being attached to a loom, can have the stick applied thereto. The whole structure can be fitted to the loom without requiring extensive changes in loom construction.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of examples two embodiments of the invention and in which: i

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one end of a loom having the invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of part of the structure shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3, Fig. 2,

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are vertical sections on lines 4-4, 5--5 and 66 respectively, Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line 77, Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the character ofthe path of movement of the picker on the upper end of the picker stick,

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are diagrammatic views showing the picker stick in three difierent positions during a shuttle propelling operation, the picker stick and its holder being detached from the operating means for the sake of clearness,

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but shows a modified form of the invention, and

' Fig. 13 is a transverse section on line 13- 13, Fig. 12.

Referring particularly to Fig. l, the loom frame is designated at 1 and supports in the lower part thereof a rocker shaft 2 from which the lay 3 is supported by layswords one of which is shown at 4. The top and bottom shafts 5 and 6 respectively of the loom are connected by gearing designated generally at 7 and the lay is provided with the shuttle box 8 to receive a shuttle W. Outer and inner stops 9 and 10 respectively are provided for the picker stick S.

In the particular form of picking mechanism shown in Fig. 1 there is provided a picker shaft 11 extending back and forth in the loom and mounted on bearings one of which is shown at 12. Secured to the shaft 11 is a picking cam 13 to cooperate with a roll 14 on a picking arm 15 secured to the bottom shaft 6. The latter shaft rotates once for each pair of beats or picks of the loom so that the cam 13 is struck by the roll 14 on alternate shuttle propelling operations of the loom. Secured to the shaft 11 is a power arm 16 the upper end of which is connected to sweep stick 17 the outer end of which has secured thereto a lug strap 18 which extends around the picker stick S. The vertical position of the lug strap is determined by a holder 19 the position of which can be changed along the length of the stick to vary the power of the picking stroke. The matter thus far described is of usual construction and operation.

The invention to be described in detail hereinafter is not limited to the particular kind of picking mechanism shown in Fig. 1 and it will be convenient to consider the lug strap 18 as the driving mean for the picker stick effective on a picking stroke to move the stick to the left from the position shown in Fig. 1 as the roll 14 strikes the cam 13 incident to rotation of shaft 6.

In carrying the invention into effect the rocker shaft 2 has secured thereto a stick mounting or carrier foot 25 having a bearing 26 held securely to the rocker shaft 2 by a bolt shown generally at 27. This bolt may be of the clamp type commonly used in some loom constructions and it is not thought necessary to describe it any further than to say that it holds the carrier foot firmly in position on the shaft 2.

The carrier foot extends to the right as shown in Fig. 2 and preferably has cast integrally therewith a casing 30 having a rear wall 31, sloping forwardly extending walls 32 and 33 and a bottom forwardly extending wall 34, see Figs. 3 and 6. A cover plate 35 is secured to the walls 32-33-34 by screw 36 and a washer 37 is provided between the cover plate and the casing 'to-pro vide an oiltight chamber. Oil may be introduced into the chamber through the cover plate by removal of a plug 38.

The structure thus far described with respect to the carrier foot is rigid with respect thereto and also with respect to the rocker shaft 2 and swings backwardly and forwardly during the usual reciprocation ofthe lay by the top shaft 5.

The picker stick has firmly secured thereto a stick holder 40 which as shown in Fig. 13 has vertical side ribs 41 between which the stick fits. A bolt 42 passes through the stick at the lower end thereof as shown in Fig. 4 and is screw threaded into the web 43 of the holder 40. In this manner the holder 40 is secured tightly and in fixed position on the stick and moves with the stick as a unit during a shuttle propelling opera tion.

The back wall 31 of the casing 30 is provided with a bearing 45 in which is rotatable a short shaft 46. The rear end of shaft 46, the left-hand end as seen in Fig. 3, extends beyond the wall 31 and has secured thereto as by a key 47 a power input element 48. This element is. provided with a vertical slot 49 extending radially with respect to shaft 46 and receiving a rectangular block 50 on the right end, see Fig. 3, of a rockable stud 51 turnable in a bearing 52 formed at the top of the stick holder 40. The input element 48 and stud 51 constitute an operative connection between the picker stick and an operating means 56 yet to be described.

The short shaft 46 extends forwardly from the bearing 45 and by means of a key 55 has secured thereto an operating means or member 56 which extends downwardly as shown in Fig. 3 and then to the left and is provided with an element 57 provided with gear teeth 58 which are arranged as a rack concentric with the axis of shaft 46. The input element 48, the shaft 46, the operating means 56 and the rack 57 are secured to each other and rock as a unit with respect to the casing when the picker stick moves. The operating means or member 56 may also be considered as a rotatable element.

The lower part of the back wall 31 is provided with a second bearing 60 in which is. rotatable another short shaft 61 the rear part of which is formed with a crank plate or disc 62 from which projects a crank pin 63. This crank pin has its axis offset from the axis of shaft 61 and extends through a bearing 64 at the bottom of the stick holder 40 as shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 61 and plate 62 may be considered to be a member having a pivotal support 63 for the picker stick, or a mounting means for pin 63.

The shaft 61 extends forwardly from the bearing 60 and is provided with a gear or pinion element 65 keyed thereto at 66. The pinion or gear 65 has teeth 67 which mesh with the rack 57 so that whenever the rack is moved with respect to the casing the pinion will be turned to cause movement of the crank pin 63 around the axis of shaft 61.

In operation, at the beginning of a shuttle propelling stroke, the picker stick will be in its outer position as shown for instance in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and the diagrammatic Fig. 9. When in this position the rack 57 will be to the left as shown in Fig. 6 and the crank pin 63 wi11 be to the left of the axis of shaft 61 as shown in Fig. 2. When the lug strap acting as the driving means moves the picker stick to the left on a shuttle propelling stroke the stud 51 and the square block 50 on it fitting snugly in slot 49 will rock the power input element 48 in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 6, around the axis of shaft 46 and cause the operating member 56 and the rack 57 to move to the right with respect to the casing. This will cause a counterclockwise turning of the pinion 65 so that the crank pin 63 will move downwardly and toward the right, Figs. 2 and 6, thereby lowering the picker stick.

carrier 40 and the picker stick. This. downwardmotion of the stickand its carrier is accompanied by downward sliding of block 50 in the slot 49. When the crank pin 63 reaches its lowest position directly under the axis of shaft 61 the picker stick will be in its lowest position as shown for instance in Fig. 10 and thereafter continued inward motion of the stick and right-hand motion of the rack with continuing counterclockwise turning of the pinion will cause the crank pin 63 to start its upward movement and at the end of the picking stroke the rack 57 and pinion 65 will have moved the crank pin 63 to the right of the axis of shaft 61 to the position shown in Fig. ll. A stop screw 69 in the casing limits motion of the operating member 56 to the right, Fig. 6.

The character of movement of the picker P is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8. If stops 9 and 10 were removed and the lug strap could move the stick through a greater sweep than that actually used the picker would follow a path such as indicated by line A in Fig. 8. The greater part of this path, the part between solid cross lines a-a is straight and substantially parallel to the axis of the shuttle box 8. The part of the path normally used will be shorter and will lie between dotted cross lines 12-11. The location of the stops 9 and 10 will determine the amount of motion of the picker and this may actually be somewhat more or less than the distance between lines b-b but not more than the distance between lines a--a. The parts of the mechanism will be designed and proportioned as to insure these conditions. The working stroke of the picker will, therefore, always be along a straight line path.

It will be understood from the showing in Fig. l and the diagrammatic views 9--11 that the picker P is secured directly to the picker stick so that the loom will be of the so-called center fire pick with the picker stick aligned with the axis of the shuttle. The motion of the picker stick as induced by the crank pin 63 is first down until the stick has moved from the position of Fig. 9 to that of Fig. 10, and then up as the stick moves on to the position of Fig. 11. In this way the upper end of the stick and the picker P are prevented from having what would otherwise be an upwardly curved path and the shuttle will be driven out of the shuttle box in a straight line.

It has been found that it is desirable to have the axis of the shuttle when fitted into the picker all in a common plane. In order to be able to insure this relationship the modified form of mounting for the stick holder 40 as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be employed. This modification involves the use of a shim 70 which may be wedge shaped and driven in between the holder 40 and the stick S. In Fig. 12 the shim is between the stick and the upper end of the stick holder but it can also be similarly located with respect to the lower end of the holder, depending upon which kind of adjustment is needed. It is understood that the shim as shown herein is only one example of various means which can be used to adjust the position of the stick holder with respect to the stick and the invention is not limited to the particular shim 70 shown, nor in fact will it be necessary under all conditions to provide for the aforesaid aligned relation between the shafts 61 and 46 and the tip end of the shuttle. This alignment, however, is desirable and it is for this reason that some provision is shown for being able to attain it.

It is customary in ordinary looms to provide someform of spring retractor for the picker stick and in the present instance such provision is made as shown in Fig.

2. A shell is mounted to turn on a stud 76 carried a shuttle propelling stroke has been completed. Although the picker stick retractor is somewhat similar to those previously used it should be borne in mind that the re: tracting force should be strong enough to hold the operating member 56 in the inclined position shown in Fig. 6 and also hold the stick up against the action of gravity. The spring acting on the shell therefore performs a function additional to that which it customarily performs in that in addition to returning the stick to the outer position shown in Fig. 1 it also returns the geared parts to a position where they can be correctly placed for the beginning of the next shuttle propelling stroke.

For purposes of identification the axis of shaft 61, the axis of crank pin 63 and the axis of shaft 46 may be considered to be, respectively, first, second and third axes.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth simple means by which the upper end of a picker stick will move in a straight line substantially parallel to the path of the shuttle. It will be seen that this result is accomplished by providing the carrier foot with a pivoted operating means including a segmental gear rack to mesh with a gear fixed with respect to a mounting for the pivotal support 63 rotatable on the foot. During the picking operation the operating means, that is, the segmental rack member, is caused to rock about its own center by a connection with the picker stick and when thus rocked causes turning of the gear pinion 65 with which it meshes so that throughoutthe picking stroke the pivotal support or crank pin 63 for the stick is caused to move around its axis by a positive force which acts independently of the angular position of the crank pin with respect to the shaft 61. There is no danger, therefore, that the mechanism can become locked even if the crank pin should move to an abnormally high position. It will also be seen that the invention provides an improved carrier foot or stick mounting for attachment to a rocker shaft wherein the segmental and gear members are mounted for rotation with respect to the foot. The carrier foot is not necessarily mounted on the rocker shaft. The construction is such that the segment rack always turns the gear member whenever the stick moves and excessive forces are not required at the beginning or end of the picking stroke to move the crank pin.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. In a loom having a picker stick supporting carrier foot and a picker stick the upper end of which moves .in a given direction during a shuttle propelling operation, a pivotal support for the lower end of the stick, mounting means for the support rotatable on said foot about an axis spaced from and parallel to the axis of the pivotal support, driving means effective to move the stick to cause the upper end thereof to move in said given direction during a shuttle propelling operation, operating means mounted for movement on said foot including a rotatable element cooperating with a member fixed to the mounting means, operative connections between the stick and operating means effective to move the latter on the foot when the stick is moved by said driving means, and connections between the mounting means and said operating means effective to move said mounting means to cause said pivotal support to move in an arc concave with respect to the upper end of the stick and in a direction opposite to said given direction during said shuttle propelling operation.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the operating means includes gear teeth meshing with a gear toothed member fixed with respect to the mounting means for the pivotal support.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said connections include a gear fixed with respect to said mounting means and rotating about the axis thereof and the operating means is pivoted on said foot and has a segmental gear rack meshing with the gear.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein the gear is between the gear rack and the axis around which the operating means moves.

5. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein the operative connection between the picker stick and the operating means is on that side of the axis of the latter opposite to the gear rack.

6. In a loom provided with a rocker shaft around which a lay swings and having a picker stick the upper end of which moves along the lay in a given direction during a shuttle propelling operation, a carrier foot secured to said shaft and rocking therewith, a mounting means rotatable on the foot, a pivotal support for the lower end of the picker stickcarried bysaid mounting means and having the axis thereof spaced from and parallel to the axis of the mounting means, driving means effective to move the picker stick to cause the upper end thereof to move in said given direction, operating means mounted for movement on said foot relatively to the picker stick and operatively connected to the latter to be moved on said foot by the stick when the latter is moved for a propellingoperation by said driving means, and connections between said operating means and said mounting means causing the latter to move said pivotal support angularly with respect to the foot first in a downward and then in an upward direction when the operating means is moved by the picker stick to effect movement of said pivotal support in a direction opposite thesaid given direction.

7. A loom as set forth in claim 6 wherein the mounting means has fixed thereto gear teeth concentric with the axis thereof and the operating means has gear teeth meshing with the gear teeth fixed with respect to the mounting means to cause rotation of the latter when the picker stick moves the operating means during a shuttle propelling operation.

8. A loom set forth in claim 6 wherein the operating means is pivoted on the foot and includes a segmental gear rack meshing with gear teeth fixed with respect to the mounting means.

9. A loom as set forth in claim 8 wherein the operatingmeans is operatively connected to the picker stick by a pin and slot means partly on the stick and partly on the operating means.

10. In a loom provided with a picker stick carrier foot and a picker stick which during the first part of a shuttle propelling operation moves from a position inclined in one direction to a vertical position and during the second part of the propelling operation moves from the vertical position to a position inclined in the opposite direction, the upper end of the picker stick moving in a given direction with respect to the lay during the propelling operation, a pivotal support for the lower end of the picker stick, mounting means for the pivotal support rotatable on said foot, operating means pivotally mounted on the foot to move about an axis spaced from and substantially parallel to the axis around which the mounting means rotates when the stick has said propelling operation, and connections including two sets of meshing gear teeth operatively interposed between the operating means and the mounting means causing the latter to move the pivotal support downwardly and in a direction opposite to said given direction during the first part of the propelling operation of the picker stick and move the pivotal support upwardly and in said opposite direction during the second part of the propelling operation of the picker stick.

11. In a mounting for the picker stick of a loom, a carrier foot having provision by which it can be supported on the loom, a member rotatable on the foot about a first axis and having a pivotal support for the stick having a second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis, an element fixed with respect to the memher provided with gear teeth concentric with thefirst axis, an operating means pivoted on the foot for movement about a third axis parallel to andspaced from the first and second axes and having gear teeth arranged concentrically with respect to the third axis meshing with the gear teeth of said element, and a power input element on the operating means by -which the latter may be rocked about said third axis by the picker stick to cause said pivotal support to revolve around said first axis.

1 2. A mounting as set forth in claim 11 for a loom having a rocker shaft and wherein the provision for supporting the foot is a bore to fit a shaft and wherein the axis of the bore extends in a direction at right angles to said first, second and third axes.

13. A mounting set forth in claim 11 wherein the gear teeth of the operating means is on one side of the third axis and the power input element is on the opposite side of said third axis.

14. The mounting set, forth in, claim 11 wherein the gear teeth of the element fixed to the rotatable member and the gear teeth of the operating means mesh with each other beyond the first axis with respect to the third axis.

l5. The mounting set forth in claim 11 wherein the gear teethof the operatingmeans are in the form of an internal segmental gear and the teeth on the element fixed to the rotatable member form a gear and the first axis is between the point of mesh of hte gear teeth and the third axis.

16. In a mounting for the picker stick of a loom, a carrier foot having provision by which it can be'supported on the loom, a member rotatable on the foot about a first axis and having a pivotal support for the stick having a second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis, an operating means mounted for movement on said carrier foot including a rotatable element cooperating with another element fixed to said member, operative connections between the member and operating means causing the member to rotate around said first axis and causing the pivotal support to revolve around said first axis when the operating means moves relatively to said foot, and means on the operating means for operative relation with the picker stick whereby movement of the latter causes movement of the operating means.

17. In a loom having a picker stick carrying on one end thereof a picker which moves in a given direction during a shuttle propelling operation and having driving means to move the stick in said direction, a crank mounted for angular motion and providing pivotal support for the other end of the stick, a pivotally mounted gear toothed operating means moved angularly by the stick when the latter is moved in said direction, and a rotatably mounted gear fixed with respect to the crank and meshing with the operating means and effective to cause the crank first to lower and then raise the stick during a shuttle propelling operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 776,584 Draper Dec. 6, 1904 30 1,748,029 Talbot Feb. 18, 1930 2,540,673 Hufferd Feb. 6, 1951 2,575,456 Mastriani et a1. Nov. 20, 1951 

